POOLE Town plundered the point they needed to reclaim top spot in the Southern League with a cagey and largely forgettable 0-0 draw at Weymouth.

The draw saw Dolphins overtake title rivals Corby Town ahead of their last-day showdown with the Steelman at Tatnam on Saturday but Tom Killick’s men made hard work of it at the Wessex Stadium.

Weymouth, in desperate need of a victory to boost their flailing play-off hopes, created the better chances in a match which contained precious few.

Manager Tom Killick named one change to the side that won 3-1 at Chesham United on Saturday with ex-Torquay goalkeeper Jordan Seabright, who retired from the full-time game to become a car salesman in March, replacing the injured Nick Hutchings in goal.

After a slow start by both teams, Luke Burbidge’s low centre forced a hurried clearance from Ashley Wells and a corner for the visitors but the set piece came to nothing.

Chris Shephard’s flag kick at the other end was awkward for Seabright midway through the half but he gathered to ensure the shot-shy beginning to proceedings continued.

Poole’s Steve Devlin had a wild swing at a loose ball but the effort flew handsomely wide while Shephard briefly threatened to open up the Dolphins but his clipped cross was overhit, much to the relief of the travelling contingent.

Tom Whelan played Harrison Gilkes down the left with 32 minutes on the clock but the former Cherries winger dallied and when the loose ball finally broke for the Dolphins, Carl Pettefer could only clear the crossbar by a distance.

The chance of the first half fell Weymouth’s way on 11 minutes before the break as George Rigg burst into space down the right but his cross-shot fizzed agonisingly across the on-rushing Stewart Yetton with the visitors scrambling.

Seabright had an uncertain moment while trying to collect a routine ball and had to be bailed out by Poole skipper Jamie Whisken, who then volleyed over from a half-cleared corner for the visitors.

A spell of hesitation almost cost Killick’s men seconds before the interval as Seabright scrambled back to push Rigg’s looping header over the bar.

Poole continued to live dangerously after the restart with Rigg’s swinging centre thumped just wide by Yetton at close quarters, although the visitors did create their best opening moments later when Richard Gillespie teed up Gilkes to force an awkward stop from Jason Matthews.

Gilkes then got unnecessarily embroiled in a tangle with Weymouth’s Dean Evans, a mild fracas which saw both players cautioned by referee Adam Nunn.

Whisken headed a dinked free-kick past Matthews with 63 minutes on the clock but saw the effort ruled out for a close offside call by assistant referee Joanna Stimpson. 

During the curtailed celebrations, Weymouth stewards were forced to clear a lit flare from the pitch but the delay was kept to a minimum. 

Weymouth continued to probe and when Dean Evans lifted a ball over for Yetton to hit a half-volley across goal, Seabright looked beaten but the shot narrowly drifted wide.

As the match drew to a close, Devlin was forced to hack off the line Yetton’s header from a deep free-kick in added time but Poole saw out a result which means they need only another draw against Corby to become champions.

Weymouth: Matthews, Wells (Martin, 72), Copp, McPhee, Poole, Brooks, Evans (Fiddes, 78), Rigg (Kelly, 64), Yetton, Sills, Shephard. Subs: Colwell, J Laird.

Booked: Evans.

Dolphins: Seabright, Tallack, Spetch, Butcher, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin, Whelan (Roberts, 57), Gillespie (Quigley, 80), Gilkes (Walsh, 73). Unused subs: Emmerson, Lindsay.

Booked: Gilkes.

Attendance: 1,090.

Referee: Adam Nunn (Trowbridge).

  • Elsewhere, Christchurch slipped into the Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division’s bottom two ahead of the final day of the season after Fareham Town beat Newport (IOW) 2-1 at Cams Alders.